What causes balanitis?

Skin irritation is the most common cause of balanitis in boys. This can occur because it's not always possible to pull back the foreskin fully at this age, leading to a build-up of a cheesy-looking substance called smegma that can irritate the skin.

Irritation by smegma is also a common cause of balanitis in uncircumcised men if the penis is not kept clean.

Other causes of balanitis include:

irritation caused by urine or substances such as soaps and shower gels (contact dermatitis)

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The 1 comments about ‘Balanitis’ posted are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

Auriculas said on 16 September 2014

Not easy to clear but in my experience the best remedy is to thoroughly clean twice a day. I used, successfully, a diluted mouth wash solution of Corsodyl, then dry thoroughly and cover with small amount of Sudocrem.Persevere as this can take months to clear, but the treatment quickly removed the unpleasant symptoms of itchiness and pain. Clearing the inflammation completely can take many weeks. I was given various ointments from the GP and hospital consultant, but none worked and only made matters worse.